Well, lemme tell ya, growing Japanese Black Pine from cuttings ain’t no quick thing, but it can be done, oh yes it can. First off, you gotta pick the right time. I always say, wait till early summer when the candles are nice and firm, but not too hard yet. You don’t want them all soft and flimsy, but they shouldn’t be stiff like a stick neither. When you see that good candle, that’s the one you’re gonna snip.
Now, what you need is a healthy, strong branch. Don’t go picking some sad lookin’ branch that looks like it’s ready to give up. Look for one that’s green, alive, and free from any disease or bug bites. Grab a sharp pair of them pruning shears, make sure they’re clean! You don’t want no dirty tools messin’ up your pine. Cut yourself a piece about 4 to 6 inches long, and make sure it’s got them little bumps, nodes they call ‘em, along the stem. These bumps, well, they’re where the roots are gonna come from.
Getting the pot ready, oh, that’s real important too. You don’t just use any old dirt. No sir, you need a good, well-drainin’ potting mix. Too much water sittin’ around, and that cutting’s gonna rot faster than an apple in the sun. Once you’ve got your pot ready, stick the cuttin’ right in the soil. Now don’t go buryin’ it too deep! You want at least one of them nodes sittin’ in the soil, ‘cause that’s where your roots are gonna start. Gently press the soil down around it, not too tight, just enough so it don’t wobble.
Waterin’ is real simple at this point. You don’t wanna drown it, just give it a little water to settle the soil. Too much water’s gonna do more harm than good. After that, take yourself a plastic bag and cover the whole pot. This is gonna keep the moisture in and help the little cutting stay nice and humid while it starts growin’ them roots. Don’t be peekin’ too much though! Let it sit for a while, a few weeks at least.
Now, patience, that’s key. It’s gonna take a while for them roots to grow, could be a month, could be two. You might not see nothin’ happening at first, but don’t you worry, it’s workin’ under the soil. Just keep it in a spot where it can get some light, but not too much. Too much sun and that poor thing’s gonna dry out. Some folks like to use a grow light, but a nice bright window works just fine.
Once you see some new growth, you’ll know your cutting’s starting to root. That’s when you can think about takin’ off the plastic bag. Just don’t rush it, you want to make sure it’s strong enough before you let it breathe on its own. Keep waterin’ it, but not too much! It’s like raisin’ a kid, takes time, care, and a whole lotta patience.
Repottin’ the pine comes after the roots are well established. Most folks say wait until springtime when the buds start swellin’ before you even think about movin’ it to a bigger pot. Every two to three years is a good rule of thumb. Just be gentle with them roots when you do, you don’t want to stress the tree too much. Take your time, and make sure the new pot’s got good drainage too, or you’ll be back to square one.
And there you have it! It’s slow work, and you might lose a few along the way, but growin’ Japanese Black Pine from cuttings can be real rewarding. Just remember, patience is key, and don’t be afraid to give it another try if it don’t work the first time. Every tree’s different, just like people, so keep at it, and you’ll get the hang of it.
Tags：[Japanese Black Pine, propagating from cuttings, how to grow pine cuttings, rooting pine candles]
